Episodes

  • #451 – Dave Rogers – The Business Explorer

    #451 – Dave Rogers – The Business Explorer
    Nov 15 2024
    The Business Explorer - Your Route to Success The Business Explorer is Dave Rogers' new book. It's out 21st November. Summary of the Podcast Casual Conversation The participants engage in casual conversation, discussing Dave's Lego collection and his upcoming book release. hey express enthusiasm for the book and the insights it will provide. Book Overview and Purpose Dave explains that the main purpose of the book is to serve as a business card and introduction to his expertise. The book is divided into three sections covering redefining success, developing "softer" business skills, and strategic planning. Relatable Modern Examples Dave shares that the book features examples from younger, more modern business leaders and entrepreneurs, He does this rather than the typical historical figures, to make the content more relatable and impactful for the target audience. Key Insights from the Book Dave highlights three key insights from the book: redefining success beyond just financial metrics, developing a growth mindset and overcoming imposter syndrome, and taking a holistic approach to business planning and strategy. Leveraging AI and Technology The group discusses the potential to leverage AI technology to create an interactive experience around the book. This would allow readers to have personalised conversations and get tailored insights based on the book's content. Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship Kevin and Graham share their personal experiences of leaving corporate roles to pursue entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges and rewards of that transition. Closing Thoughts and Next Steps The participants wrap up the discussion, expressing enthusiasm for Dave's book and the potential opportunities to further leverage technology and AI to enhance the reader experience and generate new business leads. Clips from the Podcast Surrounded By Nerds https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Dave-Rogers-Surrounded-By-Nerds.mp4 The Business Explorer - Dave's New Book https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Dave-Rogers-The-Business-Explorer.mp4 The Unsexy Side of Business https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Dave-Rogers-Unsexy-Side-of-Business.mp4 Testimonial https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Dave-Rogers-Testimonial-2.mp4 The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts Graham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. MicroMailings is his new low risk, done for you marketing solution for companies seeking high net worth leads. He is also founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com
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    41 mins
  • #450 – Graham Arrowsmith – MicroYES

    #450 – Graham Arrowsmith – MicroYES
    Nov 8 2024
    MicroYES MicroYES is the brand name Graham Arrowsmith is using to promote his authorised partner status to promote MeclabsAI. His main focus is to bring Customer Facing Devices to businesses who want to achieve improved engagement from their websites. Graham's MicroYES offers strategies to leverage cutting-edge AI marketing tools to elevate your brand presence. Summary of the Podcast Navigating time zone differences Graham discusses the challenges of managing meeting schedules across different time zones. Especially as Graham is about to travel to India. He is considering setting all his meetings to the Indian time zone to avoid confusion. Promoting MeclabsAI Graham introduces MeclabsAI, a marketing AI tool that can analyse data and provide insights and recommendations to help businesses improve their marketing efforts. He highlights how Meclabs AI is built on extensive research and experimentation, making it more powerful than typical chatbots or language models. The MicroYes framework Graham explains the "MicroYes" framework developed by MECLABS, which outlines 8 key steps in the customer decision-making process. This framework is used to structure effective marketing pages and customer-facing experiences. Upcoming India trip and customer meetings Graham discusses his upcoming trip to India, where he will be meeting with various businesses in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Chandigarh. The goal is to demonstrate MeclabsAI and in particular Customer Facing Devices (CFD) technology. Recap and next steps Graham wraps up the discussion, encouraging listeners in the target Indian cities to reach out if they are interested in meeting. He also mentions that Faiza will try to create some sample CFDs for those who book a meeting ahead of the trip to showcase the technology. Clips from the Podcast MeclabsAI - including marketing AND finance https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Graham-Arrowsmith-MeclabsAI.mp4 MeclabsAI: The Best of the Best in Marketing https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Graham-Arrowsmith-Trained-on-10k-Experiments.mp4 Are Your Throwing Tries at Your Webpage? https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Graham-Arrowsmith-Throwing-Tries-at-the-Page.mp4 4 Stages of Conversion https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Graham-Arrowsmith-4-Stages-of-Conversion.mp4 Customer Facing Devices https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Graham-Arrowsmith-Customer-Facing-Devices.mp4 MicroYES Value Proposition https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Graham-Arrowsmith-MicroYES-Value-Proposition.mp4 Get MeclabsAI Training with Flint McGlaughlin LINK: https://join.meclabsai.com/mec050?fpr=2pxtl It's a 3 hour training starting noon Eastern Time (UK: 5pm) The MicroYes Sequence Stage MicroYes (MY) Example Corresponding Action Connect MY1: Yes, I will pay attention. A headline that directly addresses a pressing need or desire of the target audience, such as "Achieve Your Dream Career with Advanced Data Analytics Skills." Capturing initial interest by clearly stating what’s in it for the customer. MY2: Yes, I will engage deeper. Content that begins to elaborate on the headline, providing a teaser of the value, such as a brief overview of how data analytics can open career opportunities. Providing more context, engaging the customer with more information on how their needs can be met. Explain MY3: Yes, I understand the value. Detailed descriptions or demonstration videos showing the course modules, teaching methods, and potential job outcomes. Making the offer’s value clear and comprehensible. MY4: Yes, I believe this will benefit me. Testimonials from former students now thriving in their careers, or data on employment rates post-course completion.
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    56 mins
  • #449 – Ian Pilbeam – HR on Auto Pilot

    #449 – Ian Pilbeam – HR on Auto Pilot
    Nov 1 2024
    HR on Auto Pilot Ian Pilbeam left a corporate HR role in the public sector, formed his own business, The HR Dept, then made it run without him so he can travel the world Summary of the Podcast Introductions and technical setup The meeting begins with Ian, Kevin, and Graham introducing themselves and getting their video and audio setups working. They discuss some technical issues like camera orientation and lighting. Ian's business journey Ian shares how he transitioned from a career in public sector HR to starting his own HR outsourcing business called The HR Department 10 years ago. He describes the process of building the business to operate without him, including hiring talent, implementing systems, and cultivating the right company culture. The importance of company culture Ian emphasises the critical role of company culture in enabling his business to run smoothly without him. He explains how he involved his team in defining the company's core values and ensures they are actively lived by the employees. Transitioning leadership and letting go Ian discusses the challenges of transitioning leadership and fully stepping away from the business he founded. He shares how he built trust with his successor through hands-on training and scenario planning, and how events like the COVID-19 pandemic required him to temporarily step back in. Ian's lifestyle and travel Ian describes his current lifestyle, which involves spending about a third of the year in Edinburgh, a third in Italy, and the remaining third traveling to various destinations. He explains how this lifestyle is enabled by the self-sustaining nature of his HR business. The evolving HR landscape Ian discusses how the HR landscape has become more complex in recent years, with increased focus on mental health, work-from-home policies, and upcoming legislative changes. He explains how this has increased demand for the outsourced HR services his company provides. Clips from the Podcast Escape Story https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ian-Pilbeam-Escape-Story.mp4 Testimonial https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Ian-Pilbeam-Testimonial.mp4 The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts Graham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. MicroMailings is his new low risk, done for you marketing solution for companies seeking high net worth leads. He is also founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com
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    44 mins
  • #448 – John Keedwell – Epics Academy

    #448 – John Keedwell – Epics Academy
    Oct 25 2024
    Epics Academy John works as Director of Photography, and is the chief facilitator of the training courses throughout the Epics Academy Ltd. Summary of the Podcast Overcoming camera shyness John discusses how people often feel self-conscious or nervous when speaking on camera. This is due to perceptions of how they look and sound compared to how they see themselves. He provides strategies to help people get comfortable being on camera, such as focusing on the purpose of the content rather than worrying about appearance. Practical tips for on-camera presence John shares technical tips for improving on-camera presence. These include proper lighting camera positioning, and using an autocue or teleprompter effectively. He emphasises the importance of practicing and developing a natural, conversational style when speaking to the camera. Leveraging video for content creation The group discusses the growing importance of video for content creation and sharing knowledge. John advises breaking down content into concise, focused segments rather than long, rambling presentations. He encourages using video as a medium to effectively communicate and teach. Recap and next steps The hosts wrap up the discussion, thanking John for his insights and providing a link to his training program for those interested in improving their on-camera skills. Clips from the Podcast How You See Yourself https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/John-Keedwell-How-You-See-Yourself.mp4 Paper over the Cracks with Short Cuts https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/John-Keedwell-Fillers.mp4 Testimonial Not quite what John meant about filler roll? https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/John-Keedwell-Testimonial.mp4 The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts Graham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. MicroMailings is his new low risk, done for you marketing solution for companies seeking high net worth leads. He is also founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com
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    53 mins
  • #447 – Steven Selengut – The Retirement Income Coach

    #447 – Steven Selengut – The Retirement Income Coach
    Oct 18 2024
    The Retirement Income Coach Steve Selengut is the retirement income coach. He has a different approach to retirement income, so if you are nearing that age, listen up! Summary of the Podcast Retirement income coach Steve, Kevin, and Graham discuss retirement planning and investment strategies. Steve shares his approach of focusing on generating consistent income from a diversified portfolio of high-quality income-producing securities, rather than chasing market growth. He explains the benefits of this approach, including being able to sleep well at night regardless of market fluctuations. Closed-end funds as investment vehicles Steve describes his use of closed-end funds as the core of his retirement income strategy. He highlights their advantages, such as consistent dividend payments, diversification, and professional management. Then he discusses how he vets and selects the funds to build a portfolio tailored to his clients' needs. Profit-taking and reinvestment Steve emphasises the importance of regularly taking profits on investments that have appreciated. This is rather than holding on in hopes of further gains. He explains how this allows him to reinvest at lower prices and grow his income stream over time. It's a strategy that has provided a more stable and reliable source of retirement funds. Challenges with traditional financial advice Steve critiques the traditional investment advice model That's where financial advisors are incentivised to grow assets under management rather than focus on generating consistent income. He contrasts this with his approach of prioritising income and profit-taking to better serve his clients' retirement needs. Retirement income coaching business Steve discusses his transition from managing money for clients to now coaching and mentoring other financial professionals on his income-focused investment approach. He explains how he helps them implement his strategies and provide similar services to their own clients. Potential impact on homelessness When asked about what change he would like to make in the world, Steve expresses a desire to see an end to homelessness. If he could he would use his wealth and influence to address this issue if he had the means to do so. Recap and next steps The hosts, Graham and Kevin, summarise the key insights from the discussion and express their interest in learning more about Steve's retirement income strategies. Kevin wanted to get his book "Retirement Money Secrets." Clips from the Podcast The Whole Thing https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Steve-Selengut-The-Whole-Thing.mp4 Designed Portfolios https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Steve-Selengut-Portfolio-Design.mp4 Take Profits https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Steve-Selengut-Take-Profits.mp4 Testimonial https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Steve-Selengut-Testimonial-1.mp4 The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts Graham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. MicroMailings is his new low risk, done for you marketing solution for companies seeking high net worth leads. He is also founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com
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    47 mins
  • #446 – Dida Clifton – The Office Squad

    #446 – Dida Clifton – The Office Squad
    Oct 11 2024
    The Office Squad The Office Squad was founded by Dida Clifton, a former military staffer. Her husband flies F-15 jets. You can pick up on the methods and standards founded on a life of service. She's now putting these to good work in this back end company mostly based out of Las Vegas. Summary of the Podcast Dida's military background and entrepreneurial journey Dida shared her background of serving in the US Air Force. She worked in operations for an F-15 fighter squadron. After leaving the military, she started a bookkeeping business from home while raising her two daughters. Over time, the business grew into a full-service back office support company called The Office Squad. The Office Squad currently has two offices and 13 employees. The Office Squad's unique service model Dida explained The Office Squad's membership-based pricing model, where clients pay a flat monthly fee for a suite of services including bookkeeping, phone answering, mail handling, and more. The company focuses on providing a consistent, high-quality experience and has developed proprietary systems and processes to ensure accountability and efficiency. Scaling through franchising Dida discussed her plans to expand The Office Squad through a franchising model. This leverages the company's operational systems and training programs. She aims to open franchises across Texas first, then potentially expand to other parts of the US and eventually internationally. Importance of company culture and client fit Dida emphasised the importance of maintaining a strong company culture. That means only working with clients who are a good fit. She shared that The Office Squad has a 3-month onboarding period to ensure alignment, and they are not afraid to part ways with clients who are not a good match. Embracing technology and AI Dida expressed a positive outlook on the role of technology and AI in supporting The Office Squad's operations. She discussed using AI tools like QuickBooks AI to streamline bookkeeping tasks, while maintaining human oversight to ensure accuracy. Recap and closing thoughts Graham and Kevin praised Dida's entrepreneurial spirit and the success of The Office Squad, noting her military background and focus on company culture as key factors in the business's growth. Clips from the Podcast First Client Won By Fax https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Dida-Clifton-First-Client-by-Fax.mp4 Franchise https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Dida-Clifton-Franchise.mp4 Testimonial https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Dida-Clifton-Testimonial.mp4 The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts Graham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. MicroMailings is his new low risk, done for you marketing solution for companies seeking high net worth leads. He is also founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com
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    45 mins
  • #445 – Michael Barbarita – Optimising Business Strategy

    #445 – Michael Barbarita – Optimising Business Strategy
    Oct 4 2024
    Optimising Business Strategy Michael Barbarita focuses on optimising business strategy by providing more freedom of time for entrepreneurs & small business owners. How is this time won back? Michael shares the strategies that you need to understand to ensure you are optimising Business strategy in your organisation. Summary of the Podcast Introductions and background Graham and Kevin introduce the podcast and welcome guest Michael Barbarita, who is a co-author of a book on powerful business strategies. Michael provides background on his experience owning and operating various businesses: A ski retail store, A frozen cookie dough manufacturing company, and An outpatient rehab facility. Successful business strategies Michael explains that the key difference between his successful and unsuccessful businesses was the business strategies he implemented. In the ski and cookie dough businesses, he used strategies his competitors were not doing, like a "ski guarantee" that allowed customers to return skis they didn't like. In the rehab facility, he used strategies his competitors were using, which ultimately led to its failure. The conversion formula Michael introduces the "conversion formula" It's 4-part process for crafting effective marketing and sales messaging that captivates, fascinates, educates, and compels the customer. He explains the importance of understanding the customer avatar and their specific problems. Additionally, he stressed creating a compelling offer with elements like scarcity, risk reversal, and added value. Applying the strategies as a CFO Kevin and Graham discuss how Michael's background as a CFO and his strategic approach to business could be valuable for CFOs and finance professionals. Michael explains how he would introduce the conversion formula and other strategic concepts to clients when working as a fractional CFO. Wrap-up and next steps The conversation concludes with Graham and Kevin thanking Michael for being a great guest, and Michael providing his website (https://nextstepcfo.net) for listeners to learn more about his services. Clips from the Podcast Popcorn https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Michael-Barbarita-Popcorn.mp4 Horror Tie https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Michael-Barbarita-Horror-Tie.mp4 Strategic NOT Tactical https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Michael-Barbarita-Strategic-not-tactical.mp4 Testimonial https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Michael-Barbarita-Testimonial.mp4 The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts Graham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. MicroMailings is his new low risk, done for you marketing solution for companies seeking high net worth leads. He is also founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com
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    35 mins
  • #444 – Samuel Gordon & Marc Mouannes – Tequila Cask Investment

    #444 – Samuel Gordon & Marc Mouannes – Tequila Cask Investment
    Sep 27 2024
    Tequila Cask Investment Samuel Gordon and Marc Mouannes co-founded GORDON PWC to bring a new way to invest in Whiskey and Tequila cask investment. Summary of the Podcast Introductions and background Graham and Kevin welcome Samuel Gordon and Marc Mouannes, partners at Gordon PWC. They discuss their new tequila cask investment product. Samuel and Marc share how they met and their backgrounds in the whiskey and alternative investment industries. Tequila cask investment overview Samuel and Marc provide an overview of their tequila cask investment product. It involves purchasing unaged "blanco" tequila and aging it in oak casks for 3 years to produce a higher-quality "extra anejo" tequila. They highlight the potential for 14-15% annual returns. There is a shorter 3-year investment term compared to whiskey. It's also another investor route to diversification and inflation hedging. Market dynamics and demand The discussion covers the current and projected growth in global tequila demand. It is especially growing fast in North America, Europe, and Asia. This is driven by the influence of celebrity brands. Samuel and Marc explain how the scarcity of aged tequila and consumer preferences for higher-quality products contribute to the investment opportunity. Investment process and risks Samuel and Marc outline the investment process. This includes how they pre-sell the aged tequila to distilleries and wholesalers to provide investors with a guaranteed exit price. They also discuss the key risks, such as Agave price fluctuations and asset security, and how they mitigate these through insurance and other measures. Tax benefits and investor profile The conversation touches on the UK tax benefits of cask investments as wasting assets. The typical investor profile - affluent individuals looking to diversify their portfolios and hedge against inflation, often in the 40-45 age range. Recap and next steps Graham and Kevin wrap up the discussion, reiterating that they are not providing investment advice. Rather they are highlighting an interesting alternative investment opportunity for listeners to further research. They encourage listeners to connect with Samuel and Marc to learn more about the tequila cask investment product. Clips from the Podcast It's a 3 Year Investment Term! https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Samuel-Gordon-3-Years-Term.mp4 14% per annum https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Marc-Mouannes-14-per-annum.mp4 Testimonial Samuel Gordon https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Samuel-Gordon-TEstimonial.mp4 Marc Mouannes https://thenext100days.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Marc-Mouannes-Testimonial.mp4 The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-Hosts Graham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. MicroMailings is his new low risk, done for you marketing solution for companies seeking high net worth leads. He is also founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com
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    56 mins